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Environment

Remember When Switzerland Ruled the World of Household-Size Solar?

In our final excerpt from his new book on the history of solar power, Let It Shine, author John Perlin describes a key moment in the debate over big, centralized solar sites and smaller, distributed rooftop panels.

John Perlin

Environment

How Ronald Reagan Turned Out the Lights on Solar Power

In an excerpt from his new book Let It Shine, John Perlin reveals how one of the first actions of the new Reagan administration was to dim the lights on what had been a promising start for an American solar energy program. Solar in the U.S. has yet to fully recover.

John Perlin

Environment

Rooftop Solar Power to the People?

Some environmental advocates say the federal government is ignoring the real future of solar energy: photovoltaic cells on almost every roof. But even supporters acknowledge rooftop solar isn't the complete answer to the energy question — yet.

Michael Haederle

Social Justice

Solar Showdown: Are New Solar Power Projects Anti-Environmental?

Big money, big energy and big environmentalism join forces to support big solar energy projects on federal land in the Southwest. But could these "green" projects actually be anti-environmental boondoggles in the making?

Michael Haederle

Environment

Inventor of Plastic Solar Cells Sees Bright Future

Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci, inventor of the plastic solar cell, reviews the past, present and bright future of his invention with Miller-McCune's solar guru, John Perlin.

John Perlin

Environment

Energy Oasis in the Desert

Arava Power Company, a pioneering solar energy firm, wants to make the Israeli desert bloom — with photovoltaic panels.

Judith D. Schwartz